Brown, John, Dd (3)

Brown, John, D.D.

(grandson of Brown of Haddington), one of the most eminent of modern Scottish divines, was born July 12,1784, at Whitburn, Scotland, and educated in literature and theology in the " Secession School." Soon after he was licensed as a probationer, and he received a call from the Burgher congregation at Biggar, to the pastoral charge of which he was ordained in 1806. In 1821 he became pastor of the United Secession Church, Rose Street, Edinburgh, and, on the death of Dr. James Hall, he succeeded that minister as pastor of Broughton Place Church, Edinburgh. 'he Burgher and Anti-burgher Seceders having united in 1820 under the name of the United Associate Synod, Dr. Brown was chosen one of their professors of divinity in 1835. The body to which he belonged was merged in 1849 in the United Presbyterian Church (q.v.). He held his post as professor, with the pastoral charge of the United Presbyterian Church, Broughton Place, Edinburgh, till his death, Oct. 13th, 1858. Dr. Brown was greatly respected and loved as an eminent pulpit orator, and his sterling Christian character and amiable and warm piety commended him to the esteem and affection of all the people of God who knew him, however separated among men by different names. What Dr. Chalmers was in the Free Church, what Dr. Wardlaw was among Congregationalists, what Dr. Bunting was among Wesleyans, that was Dr. Brown among United Presbyterians. All these great men belonged, in one sense, specially to their respective denominations, but in another and far higher sense they belonged to the Christian world, and were equally esteemed and beloved by Christians of all denominations. He was a very voluminous writer, as he was in the habit of publishing his Divinity Lectures, and also many of his congregational lectures. In theology he is probably to be classed with moderate Calvinists or Baxterians, and this type of doctrine prevails in the United Presbyterian Church. His writings include The Law of Christ respecting Civil Obedience (Lend. -1839, 3d ed. 8vo) :-Expository Lectures on 1 Peter (Edinb. 2d ed. 1849, 2 vols. 8vo; N. Y. 8vo):-Discourses and Sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ (Edinb. 1850, 3 vols. 8vo; N.Y. 1854, 2 vols 8vo) --Exposition of Lord's Prayer (Lond. 1850, 8vo):-Sufferings and Glories of Messiah (N. Y. 8vo, 1855), besides a number of practical treatises.-Darling, Cyclop. Bibliog. p. 454; Meth. Qu. Rev. 1854, p. 464; N. Brit. Rev. Aug. 1860.